The Woman in the Wing

The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor effectively ended all debate about whether or not the United States would enter World War II. The rush into battle brought many changes, especially to American women. Two hundred thousand female civilians enlisted in the military and twelve million more, many who had never worked outside of their homes, took jobs in factories, offices, and as civilian workers on military bases.

The new supply of labor increased ship, airplane, and weapons production beyond all expectations. Eighty-five hundred planes a month rolled out of factories—twice the number previously manufactured in an entire year.

A largely unknown fact both during and after the war was that more than half of the aircraft produced were delivered to ports and bases around the country by civilian women pilots—Women Airforce Service Pilots, the WASP.

The Woman in the Wing is a fictional suspense thriller, and Charlotte Mercer is one of those women. Charlotte's career as a pilot nearly ends before it begins when an Army major removes her from her training because she refuses his proposition to do something other than fly. Sent to build airplanes at a defense plant, Char learns, to her surprise, that one of the requirements of her new job is capturing a ring of Nazi spies.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Female pilots
• WWII women
• Rosie the Riveter
• historical mystery
• book trailer
• Women pilots WWII
• Women Airforce Service Pilots
• WASP